kind of left a bad taste
The animation worked really well, and I think they did a fine job of transitioning the 2D world into a 3D computer animated world. Tinker Bell also was very mischievous and loving, and the friendship between her and Liz was portrayed effectively. Liz, the little girl, was sweet and imaginative, and additionally really absorbed into her world, probably because her father was so passionately involved in his work that he seemed to have little time for her. Unfortunately, his mindset and entire profession as a scientist was vilified throughout the movie. I don't think anyone could argue that he wasn't being a jerk by forcing his small child to reject the age-appropriate world of abundant wonder that she enjoyed, but I think that stereotypes rationalist types (which I tend to identify myself as) entirely too much. I appreciate that there is a time and place for imagination, and childhood should be the time one enjoys it, and as adults we can enjoy it, get lost in it, and come back to reality when necessary. Maybe that was supposed to be the take-home idea of the movie, but that wasn't portrayed effectively. Instead, the concept of "don't understand, just believe" was conveyed as the prevailing theme, which I think is at the root of so many dangerous, anti-intellectual, and ironically heartless ideologies that have torn and continue to tear our world apart. Ok, so belief in fairies isn't going to destroy the world or do anything of the sort, and watching this movie isn't going to corrupt the masses. I just regret they couldn't have conveyed a message about rationalists that asks that we lighten up and enjoy the world of fantasy without making it seem like we are always out to murder Bambi's mom or Santa Claus.
But also realize that the movie kind of destroys its own message in the end, because it is only through direct observation that either of them knew for sure that fairies were real. Anyway, I probably just spent way too much time analysing a ridiculous movie meant for toddlers.